Welcome to Bethany Dental Care

At Bethany Dental Care we don't just take care of your teeth, we take care of your smile! Good oral health is vital to your overall health and your sense of self-confidence.

Our mission is to keep your smile at its healthiest and happiest. Our doctors and staff strive to combine the latest technology with attention to individual needs to give you the highest level of treatment and comfort available. We focus on teaching proper oral health habits, preventative care and timely, quality treatment when concerns arise.

Wisdom teeth extraction is considered to be one of the safest surgical procedures when performed by a trained dentist or oral surgeon. If you are planning to have your wisdom teeth extracted, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the complications. If you experience any of these issues, you will be more likely to recognize the signs.

Swelling can occur in the face. You may also notice discoloration, tenderness, pain and discomfort. As many as half of the patients who undergo wisdom teeth extraction surgery have experienced similar symptoms. These symptoms may be present for one to two days following treatment. Typically, this discomfort can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, which both have anti-inflammatory properties; however, if your symptoms seem severe and do not abate after 48 hours, talk to your dentist immediately, as this could be a sign of an infection that will need timely treatment.

Dry socket occurs when the blood clot fails to form or falls out of the tooth socket, leading the tooth nerves to fire without ceasing, leading to a throbbing pain. This pain may arrive days following extraction and is often mistaken for an infection. Unlike an infection, however, a dry socket will resolve itself in one to two weeks. If you are uncertain if you have dry socket or an infection, talk to your dentist immediately.

Following your surgery, you will experience bleeding. This bleeding should cease on its own within six or seven hours. Bite down on the gauze you were given following surgery for one full minute. Take a mouthful of water and gently remove the gauze. You may also bite down on a wet tea bag; the tannins can help the blood to clot. In rare cases, severe bleeding will continue after the initial six-hour period. If this should happen, see your dentist.

You may experience difficulty opening your mouth wide following surgery due to inflammation and swelling. Treat this with ibuprofen and it should go away after two days.

Teeth that are missing or lost due to problems like disease or injury should be replaced so that the mouth’s function and appearance are restored. Dental implants are a great way to achieve this for patients with healthy gums and in good overall condition.

Success
Dental implants have a high success rate in suitable candidates for the procedure. Patients are happy with the long-term outcomes, especially where function, looks, bone preservation, maintenance, and hygiene are concerned.

Appearance
Implants definitely improve appearance because they give patients back a full smile. They look like natural teeth and are made to match existing teeth. Unlike real teeth that can age or become diseased or lost, implants can delay or prevent changes in that area of the jaw. Implants will not shrink or age the face.

Comfort
Dental implants feel like real teeth. Since the restoration is surgically inserted directly into the jaw and allowed to fuse with the bone, it ends up feeling just like part of the body. Implants are very comfortable, unlike some alternate teeth replacement solutions such as dentures.

Function
Implants restore the ability to eat and speak, which are both difficult when some teeth are missing. These tasks may also be negatively affected by dentures, because that type of restoration has a reputation for affecting eating and talking. Implants allow patients to feel comfortable that they will function correctly, eliminating the worry that accompanies other solutions.

Durability
Implants are durable and easy to maintain. They are taken care of just like real teeth, and they remain in place without having to remove for cleaning. With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.

If you live in the Beaverton area and you are considering dental implants, contact our office today.

Dental implant surgery has an outstanding success rate, but like any surgical procedure there can be complications after surgery or even complete failure of the implant.

Some of the factors that can cause concern or complications after the placement of dental implants include:

Bacteria at the implant site that causes infection. When the site is not cared for properly after surgery, peri-implantitis may occur and cause bone loss and implant failure.

Implants that are placed too close to the nerve can cause nerve damage that results in pain, numbness or tingling in the mouth, teeth and gums.

Improperly placed implants may cause inflammation or infection of the sinus cavities.

Poorly placed implants, implants that are exposed to trauma, damage to surrounding tissues or insufficient bone density can keep the jawbone from fully fusing to the implant.

Rare but occasional allergic reactions to the small amounts of titanium alloy present in some dental implants may occur.

Most of the complications associated with dental implants can be avoided when placed by a qualified dental professional and then followed with vigilant care. After implant surgery, you should contact your dentist or oral surgeon immediately if you experience any problems. The sooner you catch potential trouble, the easier it will be for your dental professional to take corrective action before the implant is in serious trouble.

To ensure your procedure falls in the 95% of successful implant placements, make sure to identify an experienced dentist or oral surgeon to manage your treatment. With excellent planning and care, you can have a complication-free dental implant procedure and enjoy the restored function and beauty of your smile.

There are lots of reasons that finding a family dentist is a great decision for everyone in your household. You can research and find a dental professional and office staff that you like only one time, and then feel confident everyone in your family is getting quality care in one location.

Here are some more reasons to find a family dentist.

One stop service
It is helpful to be able to meet your entire family’s dental needs in one location. Instead of having to drive yourself to one office and other family members to another, you can focus on just one office and one staff. No more going to one provider for cleanings and another for more complex procedures. You can get quality care from the family dentist you choose, and your life if made simpler in the process.

All ages welcome
A family dentist serves the dental needs of everyone in your household, from children to teenagers to senior adults. Things like first appointments, braces, teeth whitening, root canals, and dental implants are all possible with most family dental practices. Also, children may feel more comfortable going to the same place as parents.

Available treatment
Some family dental practices offer emergency service after hours and on weekends. So when someone in your family wakes up at night with a severe toothache, you can seek help. You can’t predict when dental accidents might happen, and it’s reassuring to be able to see your regular family dentist for treatment.

Teeth that have one or more of a variety of imperfections may be transformed through the application of dental veneers. These customized thin shells are bonded onto the fronts of your teeth to improve your smile. Veneers are most commonly made from either porcelain or composite resin. Here is a comparison of the two types.

Purpose
Both types of veneers serve the same purposes in terms of concealing dental flaws. They hide problems like discolorations, chips, cracks, misalignments, gaps, and rough edges.

PatientsPorcelain veneers are suitable for adult teeth and are not usually recommended for children. One thing that draws some patients to resin veneers is the price, because they are less expensive than porcelain. However, many dentists consider resin an outdated material and believe porcelain offers more benefits to patients.

Creation
Porcelain veneers are made using a mold of your mouth. The creation process requires up to two weeks in a dental lab, so there is wait time involved with getting porcelain veneers. On the other hand, resin veneers are created while you wait in the dentist’s office. As soon as the resin material hardens, they are ready to apply in only about an hour’s time. If you choose resin veneers, make sure your dentist is experienced in creating and applying them.

Attachment
Once porcelain veneers have been made and given to your dentist, they will be attached to your teeth using a strong gel activated by a special light. Both types of veneers require a small amount of enamel to be removed from your teeth before attachment. The more teeth that you get veneers on, the longer the attachment process takes.

Duration
With both kinds of veneers, the procedure is considered permanent and irreversible. Veneers instantly bond to your teeth and should remain in place for many years. However, resin veneers are not as durable. They commonly last about five years, while porcelain lasts about twice that long.

Care
Both types of veneers require brushing, flossing, and regular checkups. If damage does occur, porcelain veneers cannot be repaired and will need to be replaced. Resin veneers can be repaired if they are broken or cracked.

If you’re experiencing pain or other concerning dental problems, it’s always best to schedule as appointment to see your general dentist. The dentist will examine your teeth and gums to identify what is causing the problem, but sometimes it is better treated by a specialist such as an oral surgeon. If your dentist says that an oral surgeon is the best choice to treat your condition, follow through and make an appointment with a qualified surgeon.

Ask your dentist for recommendations for a reputable and experienced oral surgeon. You must be able to trust your surgeon and have confidence in your treatment. Also look for someone you feel comfortable with and like both the surgeon and the supporting staff. The less anxiety you have before, during, and after your procedure, the better you will feel about the whole experience. Even though it may be only a few times that you seek treatment from this type of specialist, choosing one you like and trust is still important.

When you visit your oral surgeon for the first time, you will not have the procedure done on the same visit. The first appointment allows you to get to know one another and decide together upon your treatment. You will learn what to expect during the operation and recovery, and obtain instructions about how to prepare for surgery. There are often specific directions on what to do and not to do so that you avoid complications during surgery. Your surgeon will also go over options for sedation or anesthesia, so that you can choose the best one to make you the most comfortable during the procedure.

Once you have seen the oral surgeon, gotten the information you need, and decided to pursue treatment, the next step is having the surgery and then following the aftercare instructions. If you take the doctor’s advice, you will likely be back to your old self soon and happy that you sought the care of an oral surgeon.

Smile makeovers can include some fairly extensive work, some of which might be worrisome or uncomfortable for the patient. If you’re facing a smile makeover, you’re excited about the results to come, but you’re probably nervous about how you’re going to get there. If you’re beginning the journey down your smile makeover path, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways for you to manage your pain and anxiety.

Before a procedure, your dentist may prescribe you an oral conscious sedative. This sedative is typically in the form of a pill and can be taken by mouth up to an hour prior to your treatment. If your anxiety is so great it affects your ability to sleep, you might receive an additional dose to take the night before. This ensures that you get a good night’s rest.

Once you’re in the dental chair, you might be offered nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. This gas is an inhaled conscious sedative and it can leave you feeling very relaxed and dreamy. You may even feel as though you’ve drifted off to sleep, but that’s an illusion; you are actually conscious and able to respond to instruction. Nitrous oxide wears off very quickly and you’ll feel alert soon after you stop breathing it in.

IV sedation is used for more involved procedures, especially those that require oral surgery. This sedation is also a form of conscious sedation, and you will be able to respond to commands, even though you may feel completely “out.” You are also likely to have no memories of events while you are sedated, as a side-effect of the medication is amnesia.

After your smile makeover, you will either have been prescribed narcotic pain relief, or you’ll use over-the-counter analgesics, like ibuprofen. In the days following your treatment, you’ll start to feel better and better, until one day, the pain is gone and all that is left is your gorgeous new smile.